Key facts
- The US has criticised Australia's proposed laws requiring social media platforms to offer users an algorithm opt-out.
- The US embassy in Canberra stated the proposal amounts to 'censorship of protected speech'.
- Australia's draft laws risk hefty fines for tech firms failing to provide the opt-out option.
- The US claims vague definitions of 'harm' could lead to 'viewpoint-based censorship'.
- The US warned the laws could reduce the reach of independent journalists and affect global users.
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the legislation aims to give individuals control over their content.
The US has criticised Australia's proposed digital duty of care laws, which would require social media platforms to offer users the ability to opt out of algorithms, stating it amounts to 'censorship of protected speech'. In a rare submission to the draft legislation, the US embassy in Canberra expressed 'serious concerns', arguing that allowing the government to 'enforce vague definitions of 'harm'' could lead to 'viewpoint-based censorship'.
The US submission also claimed that the proposed laws might reduce the reach of independent journalists or other voices whose content touches on sensitive or controversial topics if tech firms have to 'pre-emptively demote' them. The US warned that mandated platform design features, especially concerning algorithms, could affect what users see, say, and hear globally, not just in Australia. The embassy also called on Australia to address industry concerns that the 'biases and preferences' of government officials do not 'disadvantage independent or minority-viewpoint speech', and that the laws could affect Australia's 'reputation as a jurisdiction that enables innovation'.